Hey everyone! My name is Soraya Omtzigt, I'm a twenty-three years old dancer/ actor/theatre maker/choreographer and I just graduated from my dream school NYU (New York University)!!

All the way from my “kleine kikkerlandje”, aka the Netherlands, to the big apple, falling in love with the city, the dance and theatre scene, but mostly, the people. Being an international artist makes it incredibly hard to work in the US or my home country - as my creative and professional network lies in NYC. That’s why I want to start my own dance theatre troupe that can go beyond borders, which is also why I'm asking for your help.

I think that art cultivates empathy, has the power to stop the hate and resentment that people may feel towards one another, and start the revolution of listening to each other. I am ready to be one of the pioneers and I hope that you could help me on my journey of building my own traveling theatre dance company, soon to be called my home.

RAYA Dance Theatre Company is a theatre troupe founded by me (Soraya Omtzigt), that focuses on vulnerable honest storytelling, using experimental theater, dance, and humor to play with the unplayable. RAYA’s shows strive to defy your expectations and to make you laugh, lean in and actively reflect on real life and your own humanity. 

Our first show called HOMESICK is about 7 young-adolescents. With OCD. In a group home. This can only go right :) As a new patient gets admitted to the facility, the group dynamic shifts and the youngsters explore… well, everything that feels forbidden, as every teenager does, being forced to face their fears, as they take a dive into the Deep Blue Sea of Adulthood.

This show includes  dance, singing, original house music, and recordings from actual OCD folks!

I’m incredibly thankful for every penny that you or your friends and family could spare, as it would allow me to afford rehearsal space, renting a theatre, covering producing costs, and paying my insanely talented collaborators, while maintaining the autonomy, authenticity and beautiful roughness of being a group of independent, young and innovative artists. Together, we can make a change, one little step at a time

Kind Regards,

Soraya and my RAYA friends :)